Railway car



B. W. KADEL RAILWAY CAR Fiied March 21, '1924 June 16,. 1931.

Patented June 16, 1931 Unire gstares BYEBS W. Kan-nnv or BALrIMonE, MARYLAND RAILWAY` CAR Application filed March 21, 1924. Serial No. 700,752.

This invention relates to railway cars and haswamong its objects to provide improvements in the door construction thereof. Another object is to provide improved means i'r'or supporting car doors and improved means for forcing such doors from one position oi closure to another. jects in view the invention consists Vof the formation, combination and arrangement of parts as will be herein described and finally y p webs 8y extend inwardly toward the door. drawings which,

show a preferred form of the invention,

claimed.

In the accompanying Figure 1 is a fragmentary 4side elevational View of the hopper portion oa twin hopper car of the well'known type. Figure 2` is a fragmentary outer face view offene kof the doors of such acar, this view being taken in the direction of arrow A, Figure 1. A door mechanism constructed in accordance. with the principles ofthe present invention is shown as .applied to the car-,inl Figure 311s a transverse these two figures. sectional .View showing the'mechanism, this view beingL taken on the line 3 3 of Figure l. Figure 4 is ay vertical sectional View through a portion of the mechanism, this Viewk being taken on the line of 4-4'of lF igure 2. Figure 5 is a vertical sectionalview taken through thesameon the line 5-5 of Figure 2. y Figure 6 is a sideelevational view of the hook or ledge members.y f

Referring to these drawings, the'side oi the car orl in twinhopper car construction the end hopper sheet is denoted by numeral 1. Y This sheet may be vcarried around the bottom line oithe car to forni the usual slope sheet 2. A door-seating flange 3 may be formed alongthe edge of the side por tion'o'f .this sheet in order to form sealing means for the lading. The hopper discharge opening is normally closed by means of theI door 4 which is supplied with any suitable number of hinges such Aas indicated at- 5.

ISuch doors are preferably formed or steel.

plates and in twin hopper carpconstr'uction they extend transversely of the car as indicated in thekdrawings and are arranged to fallopen by gravity. Securedupon the outer face of the doork is a stile'ning member 6.

lVith such obi In 'twin hopper car construction where the door is `usually separated at the center of the carfto provide a space lfor the center sill construction, this member may comprise the usual door spreader; It is preferably formed of a modified channel or U section having a web 7 disposed a plane substantially parallel with andv removed slightly from the outer face of the door plate. From oppositeedges ofthe web 7 the main anges or door. Thekinner edges of kthe yflanges or webs 8 terminate in return or outstanding flanges. 9 A'which lie` against the door plate and, provide means through which the securing rivets 10,may bespassed for securing the stiener to the door plate. Such doors are ordinarily pushedshut yby, hand or by theroot andthe present-invention includes means. forj'supporting such doors inV closed position. A part of this, means includes the fixed hook lor ledge member l1` which is Vrivetedto the endhopper sheet 1 bypmeansof rivets 12. This member has a ledge 13y at its outer end adapted to'be engaged by a latch 14 which is pivoted upon the door.

The latch'member 14 is.y disposed above' the plane parallel with and just outside ofthe v web 7 and it forms an outerpivot bearing of the latch member '14, the pivotI pin or rivet 17 having bearing therein. rAs an inner bearing `or support for the pivot pin 17 an inner bracket 18 is provided, this lying against the outer face oi' ,thejdoor and being secured thereto by means oi the rivets 19. I t will be noted that they latch member 14 has considerablefreedom longitudinally of the pivot pin 17 between thel outer pivot bracket 15 and the inner pivot bracket l18. It will also be noted that the pivot hole in the latchmember is somewhat larger than wouldjordinarily be required for pivotal action. These clearances are desirable in order to permit the ready functioning of the eccentric cam or locking device 2O shortly to be described. The pivot point of the latch 14 is at a considerably higher elevation than the ledge-engaging portion thereof and the latch is bent intermediate its ends so that the ledge-engaging portion lies substantially horizontal while the pivoted end thereof extends in a diagonally upward direction. This construction is particularly 'desirable as it gives better disposition of the parts and also adds to the economy and ease of operation of the construction. Y c Y c When the door is pushed shut either by handA or by foot or by any other suitable means, the eccentric cam 2() having been rotated in counter clock-wise direction'from the position shown in Figure 2, the latch can be lifted and dropped into engagement behind the ledge 13 and the door thereby supported in at least partly closed position. It will be noted that when the cam 20 has been so rotated the ledge-engaging end of the latch 14 may have considerable sidewise movement. It is in order that this movement may readily take place that theV extra clearance is providedY at the pivot end of the latch. Accordingly with the cam rotated out of the way as above mentioned, when the door is first supportedrby the inter-engagement of the latch 14 and the ledge 13 it will be supported in a partly closed position as the weight of the door will take up all of the play of the latch in the inward direction. The cam 20 is arranged with the customary peripheral eccentric locking face-21 adapted to bear down upon the upper edge of the latch to force it downwardly back of the ledge 13 to thereby hold the latch againstaccidental release in service. The cam 20 is furthermore provided with aA marginal shroud 22 which is adapted to fall behind the latch 14 when the cam is rotated.` This shroud is tapered from a lesser width at the line B to a greater width at the line C, seev Figure 2, so that as the cani is driven in clock-wise direction into engagement with the latch 14 the tapered portion 22 will at the same time by wedging itself between the door and the inner face of the latch 14 force the door to a more nearly closed position. The one member thus serves to forcey the door from a partly closed to a more completely closed position and serves to lock the latch in engagement with the ledge. The uppermost return or outstanding flange 9 of the door stiifener member maybe slightly extended as shown to forni an effective seat for the back of the shroud 22. In cases where the door is warped or buckled it may be forced shut by inserting a removable door-prying lever or bar such as 23 between the outer face of the latch and the inner edge of the stud 24 which is formed upon the outer face of the ledge member 1l. By applying force to the upper end of the bar 23 the door may be forcibly closed, if necessary to use external means. The outer end of the latch member is bent outwardly at 25 to provide means for preventing the bar 23 from slipping off the latch when so' used. In addition to 'cooperating with the removable lever for forcing the door shut the stud or laterally projecting portion`24l 'and the outwardly projectling portion of the latch may also cooperate with the lever to move the latch in an unlocking direction to release the door. To accomplish this the operator stands at the side of the hopper to the rear of the door where he will not be struck by the ladingl when it is discharged and inserts the free end of the lever above the projection 24 and beneath the projecting portion of the latch. The grasp end of the lever is then rotated upwardly forcing the latch from engagement with the hook. It is to be particularly noted that since the free end ofthe lever moves downwardly during this operation the latch is fiee to slide off the lever. In this manner it will be perceived that tlc :lever in no wise interferes with the gravity opening of the door.

' I have thus described an embodiment of my inv-ention. 4Other embodiments are contemplated Ywithin the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit thereof. e

Vhat is claimedvis 1. A railway car having a door, a fixed locking member and a latch member adapted for door supporting engagement therewith, one ofsaid members carried by the car body and the other by the door, pivotal means for the latch member, and a movable locking member adapted to lock the two members Vin engaged positions, said locking member being also adapted t'o force the door from a preliminary 'position of closure to a more coi'nplet'ely closed position by bodil moving the latch member longitudinally of' its pivotal axis.

' 2. A railwayV car having a door, a ledge member lcarried by the car body adjacent said door, a latch pivoted upon the door adapted for supporting cti-operation withthe ledge ofvr said member, and 'a locking cam pivotally associated with the latch, the same liaving a face adapted to force the latch down into engagement with the ledge and having another portion adapted to Yforce the door toward its. closed position.

3. A railway car having a door, a ledge member and a pivoted latch member, one carried by the vcar body and the other by the door, the latch being adapted for supporting engagement with the ledge of the said ledge member, the ledge-engaging end of the lat-ch being arranged for movement movement. i y v Y e. A` railway car having a door, a ledge member and va Ipivoted latch member, one

carried by the car body and the other by the door, the latch member being adapted for supporting engagement with thek ledge of the said ledge member, the ledge-engaging end of the latch being arranged for mov-ement atrightfangles to the plane of swing of the latch, and means adapted to contact one side of the latch for forcing the door from a partly closed to a more completely closed position. Y

5. A'railway car having a door, a ledge member and a pivoted latch member, one carriedbythe car body and the otherbyrthe door, the latch member being adapted for engagement with the ledge of the ledge member to hold the door in -a closedposition, and wedging means arranged to exert pressure betweenthe door and the latch member to force the door to a more completely closed positionby moving the latch .member in a plane at substantially right angles to that of the'normal plane of pivotal motion thereof. v y .Y

6. A railway car having a door, a ledge member affixed to the car body, a latch pivoted upon the door and normally adapted to swing in aplane substantially parallel 'to that of the door into engagementwith the ledge of the' ledge member to hold the door in closed position, and means rotatable be` tween the door and the latch adapted'v to cause said latch to hold the door in different positions of closure. Y Y' 7. A railway car having a door, a stiftening member attached to the outer face of theV door, the same embodying a channel shapedv section arranged with its web in a Aplane substantially parallel with the outer face of the door and removed slightly therefrom,

Y a' ledge member provided upon the car body and a latch member pivoted upon the door and adapted for supporting co-operation with said ledge member, and a pivot bracket for the latch the same lying against and being securedto the outer face `of the web' of saidchannel; y i

8. A railway car having a door, a stiening member mounted upon the outer face of the door, the same being formed of a member ofv channel section, the web thereof being disposed in a plane substantially parallel with the outer face of the door and-removed slightly therefrom, a `ledge member provided upon the car body and a latch member pivoted upon the door, said latch `being adapted for supporting co-operation with the said'ledge member, the said latch being arranged yabove the said channel section and being mounted thereupon for swinging movement in a plane substantially parallel with .that-of the door, themounting means. embodying a.r bracket lsecured `to the vface of the door and a vhousing portion securedltothe' said channel.. u

9. A miiwayrcar ,having a lading alscharge opening,"a door 'forclosing said opening, a fixed hook carried bythe car body,

and a pivoted latchfmounted on the door co operable .with said hook for supporting the door in closed position, said hook .being fashioned on its outer face with a projectionv forming a fulcrumk for a removable door prying lever whereby vthe doormay be forced to closed position. I

l0. A railway car' having a lading dischargerv opening, avr door vfor* `closing said opening,.and means for supporting the door in closed position involving a hook affixedy to the car body and alatch pivotally secured to the door, the ixed hook being provided with an outwardly projecting portion adapt ed to forma fulcrum for a removable prying lever,-said lever being operable between` the projection and outer end of the latch for prying the door'to closed position.`

ll. A railway car having a lading discharge `openin, :{,`a hinged vdoor for closing said opening, a/hook mounted on the car body, a latch kpivotally secured to the door and extendingo'utwardly beyond an edge thereof for 'cooperating with the hook to support the door in-closed position, and-a plate member overlapping the latch adj acent thesaid edge of the door constituting means for limiting movement of the latch outwardly away from the door, said plate further constituting a pivotal support for'the` said latch. Y n

- 12,'Arailwaycar having a door for clos.

ing a `lad-ing discharge opening, said door being adapted to kswing to open positionV under the influence of gravity, a latch pivotally mounted'on the door and extending outs wardly beyond an edge of the latter, and a doorvlocking member rigidly affixed to the car body'and provided with a ledgel for en- Mill gagement by the latch? to support -the door f in closed position, said latch having a por tionV extending laterally outward' vbeyond said ledge, saidlocking member projecting V beyond `the lading dischargev opening inthe directionof opening movement of the door and being-provided onits outer yside-with a lateralprojetion affording a fulcrum for a removable lever, said fulcrum being in advance of said ledge inthe direction of open-v ing movement ofthe door, whereby saidk leverywhen in engagement with said fulcrum and the outwardly v,projecting portion of the'latchmay be rotated 'to effect an un-` lockingmovement ofthe latch. i

l3..In car door mechanism, the combination with a hinged door adapted to move to open position;` under thevv influence of grav-Y ity, ofmeans yforsupporting the door against opening movement,isaid means involving a latch pivotally mounted on the door Yand projecting outwardly beyond an` adjacent edge of the latter, and a shouldered member rigidly secured to the car body and adapted to be engaged by the latch, said V shouldered member being provided below its latch engaging portion with an outwardly extending projection forming a fulcrum for a removable door prying lever, the latter being adapted to cooperate with the fulcrum and outwardly projecting portion of the latch to force the door towards closed position.

14. A railway car having a hinged door for closing a lading discharge opening, a flanged stiffening member secured to the outer face of said door, said member having a portion substantially parallel with and spaced outwardly from the door, aV shouldered member rigidly secured tothe car body, a latch member pivotally mounted upon the door and cooperable with the shouldered member to support the door in closed position, a plate member secured to the outwardly spaced portion of the stiffening Amember and projecting laterally therefromy towardthe hinge aXis'of the door in overlapping relation to the outer .face of the door, saidlatch being interposedbetween said yplate member and the door, and means connected to said plate member above the stiffening member affording a vpivotal support for said latch. Y

15.y A railway car having a door for closing a lading discharge opening, a fianged stiffening member secured to the outer face of said door, said member having a portion substantially parallel with and spaced outwardly from the door, a shouldered member rigidly secured to the car body, a latch member pivotally mounted upon the door and cooperable with the shouldered member to support the door in closed position, and a pivoted `cam for locking the latch member in door supporting position,-a plate member overlying the outer face of the latch member and cam and rigidly secured to Lthe outwardly spaced portion of said stiffenin'I member, and means connected lto said plate member affording pivotal support-s for said latch member and cam.

16. A railway car having a door for closing aslading discharge opening, a flanged stiffening member secured to the outer face of the door, said member being provided with a portion substantially normal to the door and with a `portion spaced outwardly from `and substantially parallel thereto, a shouldered member carried `by the car body, a latch pivotally Imounted upon the door and arranged to Vengage said shouldered member to support the door in closed position, said latch being disposed above the normal portion of theustiffenin'g member, a

plate ymember overlying the outer face of saidV latch and rigidly secured to the outwardly spaced portion of said .stiflening member, and means Aconnected to said plate member affording a pivotal support for the said latch.

17.` A railway car having a door for closing a lading discharge opening, said door being adapted to swing to open position under the influence of gravity, a latch pivotally mounted on the door and extending outwardly beyond an edge of the latter, and a shouldered member rigidly affixed to the car body adapted to cooperate with the latch to support the door in closed position, the outer end of said latch being fashioned with a laterally projecting portion, said shouldered member having a projecting `portion affording a fulcrum foi` a romovable lever, said lever being adapted to engage the latch between its offset portion and the outer face of the shouldered member whereby the door may be forced toward closed position. l 18. A railway car having a door for closing a lading discharge opening, said door being adapted to swing to .open position under the influence of gravity, a latch pivotally mounted on the door and extending outwardly beyond an edge of the latter, and -a shouldered memberl rigidly amazed to the car body adapted to cooperate with the position, the outwardly projecting portion of said latch being provided with means foil limiting movement of the lever longitudinally of the latch.

19. A railway car having a door for closing a lading discharge opening, said door being adapted to swing to open position under the influence of gravity, means for supporting the door against opening movement involving a latch pivotally mounted on the door and projecting outwardly beyond the adjacent edge of the latter, and a shouldered member rigidly secured to the car body, the outwardly projecting portion of the latch being integrally formed with an offset portion, said shouldered member being provided with a. laterally projecting' portion affording a fulcrum for a removable lever, saidl lever being adapted to engage the outwardly projecting portion of said latch between the offset portion thereof and the outer face of the shouldered member whereby the door may be forced to closed position. I

20. A railway car having a door for closing a lading discharge opening, said door being adapted to Aswing to open position under Athe influence of gravity, means for supporting the door against opening movement .involving` a latch pivotally mounted on the door and extending outwardly beyond the adjacent edge of the latter, and a shouldered member rigidly secured to the car body, said latch and shouldered member being adapted to cooperate with. each other to support the door in closed position, the outer end of said latch terminating in a portion projecting in the direction of opening movement of the door, said shouldered member being provided with a laterally projecting portion affording a fulcrum for a removable lever, said lever being adapted to engage the latch between the projecting portion thereof and the outer face of the shouldered member whereby the door may be forced toward closed position.

21. A railway car having a door for-closing a lading discharge opening, said door being adapted to move to open position under the influence of gravity, means for supporting the door in closed position involving a shouldered member rigidly secured to the carbody and a latch pivotally .mounted on the door having a portion projecting outwardly beyond a side edge thereof engage-r able with the shouldered member, said latch terminating in a portion disposed substantially parallel to and spaced from the outer face of the shouldered member, said shouldered member being provided on its outer face with a'lateral projection affording a fulcrum for a removable lever, the latter being adapted to engage the latch between the end portion thereof and the outer face of the shouldered member whereby the door may be forced toward closed position.

In testimony whereof I ailiX my signature.

BYERs w. KADEL. 

